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Samsung’s been making its flip-style phones for what seems like forever now, but could you believe that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 may be the very last one ever? That’s what the latest rumor suggests, as Samsung could be undergoing a massive, unexpected shake-up.
According to Instant Digital (via Notebook Check), a prominent tipster on Weibo who shared details about a new supply chain leak, Samsung could be planning to cancel the Galaxy Z Flip 9. This is due to the fact that there has been a complete absence of early supply chain talk about the Galaxy Z Flip 9, which normally happens a year in advance.
“Product planning happens at least a year in advance; if a Flip 9 were in the works, I’d have seen some leaks or information by now, but there's absolutely nothing,” reads the post by Instant Digital. In addition to the lack of chatter, the tipster claims that surging costs, design stagnation, and how users are gravitating toward larger book-style foldables are all contributing to the possibility that we won’t get a Galaxy Z Flip 9.
While this is a bold claim, I don’t think Samsung’s going to be abandoning the flip-style form factor anytime soon.
For starters, Samsung has always offered a robust selection of devices that covers the entire range — including flip phones. The form factor itself is precisely why I don’t think Samsung is going to be pulling the plug on this series anytime soon.
Sure, I could totally see it eliminating the FE model in the future, especially given how last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE was basically the same as the Z Flip 6.
Secondly, there’s still a huge price disparity between its flip and book-style foldables. While the Galaxy Z Flip 7 did get a $100 price hike over its predecessor that brought it up to $1,099, there was still a massive gap between it and the $1,999 Galaxy Z Fold 7. That’s a $900 difference, and I know plenty of people would rather pay less to get into the foldable ecosystem.
Finally, the design of the Z Flip line certainly has its advantages. In fact, I’ve claimed on numerous occasions that it’s the ideal device for content creators and anyone who is into video. Since its rear cameras are integrated into the same side as its outer screen, it's way easier and more suitable to use for vlogging than book-style foldables.
These are just some of the reasons why I don’t think Samsung is giving up on the Galaxy Z Flip 9. Plus, the lack of supply chain chatter could simply mean that Samsung is working hard to make it a way bigger upgrade than the Z Flip 8.
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